Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has reflected on his rollercoaster 2025 season so far and offered a thoughtful suggestion on how the sport could improve safety and visibility during races held in wet weather conditions. The Spanish driver, who turned 44 this week, opened up about his recent struggles at Spa-Francorchamps and shared a detailed perspective on one of the sport’s most persistent and controversial challenges.
After scoring points in four consecutive Grands Prix, the veteran driver from Aston Martin was forced to temper his expectations in Belgium. The weekend at Spa proved to be particularly difficult due to unpredictable weather, which made for a chaotic and challenging race. Fernando Alonso finished the Belgian Grand Prix in 17th position, far from his usual standards, while his Canadian teammate Lance Stroll managed to secure 14th place.
Alonso disappointed by Spa performance
In the media sessions ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso analyzed the factors that contributed to Aston Martin’s lack of pace at Spa. “We were clearly less competitive at Spa compared to the other Grands Prix,” Alonso admitted. “The car wasn’t significantly different from the previous weekends, but right from Free Practice 1, we struggled with race pace. On top of that, we started at the back due to a power unit change. We were hoping for a fully wet race to gain an advantage, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. We had a bit of bad luck too, but I believe the layout of the track played a big role in our struggles.”
On FIA’s management of the race start
When asked to comment on how the FIA handled the start of the race under wet conditions, Alonso acknowledged the complexity of the situation. “It’s a really difficult topic,” he said. “Everyone wants to race. When you’re alone on track, visibility isn’t really an issue. But when you’re in a pack, you simply can’t see anything. Sadly, Spa has given us too many examples over the years of poor visibility and very serious accidents.”
Alonso emphasized the fine balance between safety and the pressure to keep the show going. “We all want to be brave and race. The fans watching at home want that too. But when a serious crash happens, we are quickly reminded that waiting 30 minutes more isn’t the worst thing in the world.”
Alonso highlights worsening visibility in wet weather
The Spanish driver also pointed out how visibility in wet conditions has become significantly worse in recent years. “I believe visibility has been getting worse since 2017, ever since Formula 1 introduced the wider tyres under the new regulations,” Alonso explained. “The larger tyres throw up more water spray, and the surface of some circuits is also not the same as it used to be.”
He continued: “We used to race in very wet conditions at tracks like Sepang and others, and there were no major problems. But now, with this new generation of asphalt—very dark, almost black, and designed for high grip in dry conditions—it acts like a mirror when wet. The water doesn’t drain properly, and that creates even more spray, which is what causes the lack of visibility.”
A suggestion to improve track safety
Fernando Alonso then proposed a potential solution, drawing inspiration from modern road infrastructure. “I don’t know exactly what could be done, but I’ve said this many times before: on some highways, the asphalt is designed so that water doesn’t rise up and create spray. If we could implement that type of asphalt as a standard on Formula 1 circuits, especially those prone to heavy rain, it might help. Yes, that kind of surface might wear out faster in dry conditions. I’m not sure. But perhaps that’s a good place to start. Then again, I’m just a driver.”
The Spaniard’s remarks once again underline his reputation as one of the most thoughtful and technically astute voices in the Formula 1 paddock. As the sport continues to look for ways to balance safety, performance, and spectacle—particularly in extreme weather conditions—his suggestion adds valuable insight into a problem that has been highlighted time and again during rain-affected races.
Leave a Reply